Hints of a New Tegra 4 Based Chromebook Rise, Android Mentions Found in the Code

Last night on the Droid Life Show, we talked about Chromebooks and why people might be hesitant about diving head first into the platform. One of the main complaints was the lack of power to do work that other, more beefy laptops could. However, it seems that Google plans on packing a bit more punch in an upcoming rumored Chromebook. Chrome Story found hints of a new Chromebook in the code base today that looks to use the Tegra 4 processor.

What’s even more interesting is that deep in the code for this new ARM Chromebook, mentions of “android” were found. This is work-in-progress code from an unannounced device, but the thought that Android and Chromebook could be converging at some point is a pretty exciting one.

Would integration with Android make you think about getting a Chromebook at some point?

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It guy

I wish that google would change how they do the chrome web Store. I think it would run far better if they implemented it like how http://www.pokki.com/ uses the chrome web store on pcs. It gets rid of the all the crap and adds and everything in the browser and launches the just the specific web app in its own window. it also stores “apps” on the desktop (which really are shortcuts tomthe websites.) I think if this was implemented on chromebooks and than started to merge android apps as well into the same ecosystem it would be great.

skinja99

Google goes out of their way to NOT put Android on a PC-replacement device. They want you to be forced to use Chrome so that you have to use all their web functionality. If they let us have Android instead of chrome, we would not be pressured to use the google cloud documents, aps, etc.

A huge drawback to Chrome is the requirement of nearly-constant wifi connection to do most tasks.

If I could get a 12″ Android lapto or /tablet w/keyboard I would be able to do real work on it.

sonicyoof

Android app emulation?

JMonkeYJ

the main problem i have with non-Intel Chromebooks is that they don’t have flash. i can deal without flash on my phone/tablet (although i don’t like not having it) but definitely cannot deal without it on my computer.

EngineerGA

Yeah, kinda odd, but I just got a Macbook pro for work, and I was trying to find the GooglePlex on Google Maps using Safari and was forced to install Flash Player to see the street view. Can you not get a Chrome-OS Flash Player browser extension, and if not, how do you view street level images on Google’s online Maps using a Chromebook?

No Flash would make me for sure not want a Chromebook until everybody that I care about switches their websites to HTML5.

This isn’t the case. I have the arm Chromebook and it plays flash videos just fine. I believe Netflix isn’t working yet because of DRM but it’s suppose to soon. Maybe that’s what you’re referring to.

JMonkeYJ

ah, maybe that is what i heard and became misinformed. thanks for the info…that makes them a lot more attractive to me. i wish i could just install chromeOS on my old laptop so i could give it a test drive before going full-chromebook, but Hexxeh’s don’t have working Flash on my (x86) computer and the touchpad is wonky, and i don’t know of other versions.

Wish they’d go with whatever Samsung or Qualcomm come out with instead of NVidia, but I suppose it’ll work well if they optimise the code for it. With how good Samsung’s ARM offering was, I can’t see how this will be a bad thing in any case.

ConCal

please converge!!!!!!!

NCSUgolfer01

I think I’m one of the few people who actually prefers these two remain separate. I like how lightweight the OS feels on my chromebook. It boots almost instantaneously (which can’t be said about my Galaxy Nexus, or Nexus 7), is cheap, snappy, and fills the need I have at home for a device that’s slightly more capable than my Nexus 7. I really think that people need to give a web-based cloud OS a shot. I think they’d be surprised by how well it handles their home computing needs. On that front, the only things I feel like my chromebook is “missing” is Google Music Manager and the ability to manage files on the virtual SD on my Galaxy Nexus. For what it’s worth, that’s my opinion on Chrome OS and Android. And, let the downvotes begin, haha.

teleclimber

I agree. I will add that one of ChromeOS’ virtues is its security. No anti-virus, no security issues (that I’m aware of). This is a huge plus for enterprise users. Android on the other hand does have malware (if you download APKs from shady sites.) So if you put Android in ChromeOS, you stand to lose one of CrOS’s strongest points.

Tony Allen

I think merging the two together is a bad idea, but I do think some cues should be traded between the teams. I’m relatively certain that it has been said in the past that the two aren’t related and don’t have anything to do with each other on campus. It has also been hinted at, at intending on keeping it that way.

I have a samsung Chromebook and I love it. It turn on in three second (not from hibernate) and its fast overall. Its perfect for web stuff, which is what I do most of the time. If I want gaming, Ill use my PC or my PS3.

Look at the ARM/Linux/Android convergence that is beginning to take place and the Android/ChromeOS is just a logical progression IMHO….

jb

Yes, hopefully google can finally get around to merging the gmail app features into the email app and Talk, Voice, Hangouts, etc, etc into one communication service.

Daniel

I think a Chromebook would be far more appealing if it was slightly more like Android and slightly less of an online-only experience

Droidzilla

What is it you need a Chromebook to do that it won’t? It’ll play video and audio offline as well as let you do Docs offline (and picture viewing, of course). How many people use offline computers these days?

KPinNC

Only HUNDREDS of million people!

Droidzilla

I meant for personal use in the industrialised, Western world. I don’t know anyone that uses a computer outside of work for much of anything other than web browsing, video chat, streaming video, etc. If it’s offline, it’s useless for most of us. Chromebooks make a lot of sense for most people’s home computing needs.

KPinNC

Tell that to all the thousands and thousands of amateur photographers, computer grahics designers, web developers, programmers, disc jockies, on and on and on, who learn and practice at home, you know, because they enjoy it. Just because you don’t have a life doesn’t mean no one else does. Maybe you should get a hobby, you know, something constructive or educational, instead of wasting your life on Facebook and watching movies.Just a thought. Now excuse me, iI need to get back to the Windows app I am writing (for my personal use, not WORK).

It guy

I am looking at deploying chromebooks for our business. 3 things I have found that chromebooks won’t do is Skype, logmein, and Netflix. We use these in our company, and the Samsung $250 can’t do them. I realize I can use hangouts, and google’s rdp, but they don’t work with our current setup and subscriptions.

It guy

And offline google forms.

Droidzilla

Netflix should be coming soon, and ChromeOS does have a remote desktop. Hangouts would be the Skype replacement, too. But if you’re married to specific programs, then a Chromebook might not fit your bill just yet; we’ll see what the future holds. I think a lot of businesses would love these things (again, if they didn’t need specific programs) as they’re cheap, everyone gets a laptop, you get free OS and hardware upgrades, and you could essentially eliminate your IT department. I don’t think the OS is mature enough for everyone right now, but having used a Chromebook as my only home PC for a while I was really surprised at how little I need anything more.

envoy510

Connect a printer to print something directly. Having to use cloud print sucks.

Droidzilla

That’s a good point. I don’t really print anything outside of work anymore (if I want to take it with me, I have my Android), so that’s not something I run into personally.